The Effects of Age-defined Eligibility Criteria on Access to Services

Synopsis: Services for youth with mental health disorders are often governed by age-related eligibility criteria that challenge the delivery of continuous transition supports as youth move into young adulthood. This paper examines findings from a study of age-related criteria that existed in child and adult services in one community across two points in time. The results indicate that the number of services with age defined eligibility criteria were reduced after the community implemented a specific transition program.

Transitioning Youth with Mental Health Needs to Meaningful Employment and Independent Living

Synopsis: Systems of care and assertive community treatment present promising models for community-based care, but the former have focused on children, and the latter on adults. Yet to be fully understood is a model that effectively puts elements of both together for the specific benefit of transition age youth. This study identifies programs that provide a set of comprehensive supports to youth/young adults with mental health conditions, but with a particular focus on employment.

Access to Care and Mental Health in Early Adulthood

Synopsis: This presentation will discuss the association of vulnerability to mental health conditions with young adults' access to health care. Young adults in the top decile of risk for serious mental health conditions were between 35 and 194 percent more likely to experience impeded access, depending on access measure. Young adults who are more vulnerable to serious mental health conditions are more likely to lack access to needed health care than are other young adults.

Functioning in Transition

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Session Number: 37 Room: Salon G

Presenting: Nancy Koroloff; Craig Anne Heflinger

All Authors for this paper: Nancy Koroloff; Craig Anne Heflinger

Presentation Type: brief symposium

Synopsis: The issues facing young adults with serious mental health disabilities who are transitioning from adolescence into adulthood place special requirements on the programs and systems that serve them. This symposium will focus on research related to the system requirements and gaps experienced by transition aged youth. The first paper will discuss findings from a study of system change in a community that implemented a specific service for transition aged youth. The paper will focus on findings related to changes in age related eligibility criteria. The second paper will report on research using the 1995 National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to examine the access to health care during young adulthood and the impact of severity of emotional and behavioral problems. The third paper will discuss a national study of programs that emphasize career preparation, work-based experiences and employment for transition aged youth. The discussant will reflect on all three studies as they contribute to the growing body of knowledge about service systems.